Coprosma Plant Named &#39;ALDAWN&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Coprosma  plant named ‘ALDAWN’ that is characterized by its variegated foliage dark purple-green centers and margins that are vibrant pink when mature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2022/0668 filed on Mar. 12, 2022, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Genus/species: Coprosma repens.

Varietal denomination: ‘ALDAWN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coprosma repens and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘ALDAWN’. ‘ALDAWN’ represents a new cultivar of evergreen shrub grown for landscape use.

The new cultivar was discovered by the Inventor in autumn of 2016 as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Coprosma ‘Pacific Dawn’ (not patented) in a trial field in Waunfawr, Gwynedd, United Kingdom.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by softwood stem cuttings in 2019 in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, The United Kingdom. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by softwood stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Coprosma. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘ALDAWN’ as a unique cultivar of Coprosma.

-   -   1. ‘ALDAWN’ exhibits variegated foliage dark purple-green         centers and margins that are vibrant pink when mature.

The parent plant of ‘ALDAWN’, differs from ‘ALDAWN’ in having foliage that is less intense in color. ‘ALDAWN’ can be most closely compared to the Coprosma cultivars ‘Pacific Night’ (not patented) and ‘Fire Burst’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,906). Both ‘Pacific Night’ and ‘Fire Burst’ are similar to ‘ALDAWN’ in having colored foliage. ‘Pacific Night’ differs from ‘ALDAWN’ in having foliage that has dark purple in color and a more narrow and upright plant habit. ‘Fire Burst’ differs from ‘ALDAWN’ in having foliage variegation that is purple and pink-red in color and a more rounded plant habit.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales that fall within a one-year grace period prior to the filing date. Disclosures include website listings by Genesis Plant Marketing (the breeder's representative), Shoot Gardening, Worfield Plants, Kernock Park Plants, Gardeners Dream (and Amazon), Carbeth Plants, Grasslands, Twitter (by inventor) and GuiadeJardineria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Coprosma. The photographs were taken of a 2-year-old plant as grown in a greenhouse in a P-9 container in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, The United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of ‘ALDAWN’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘ALDAWN’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Coprosma.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in P-9 containers in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, The United Kingdom The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, broadly upright.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 43 cm in height and 37 cm             in spread as a 2-year-old plant as grown in a P-9 container.         -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 8 to 10.         -   Diseases and pest resistance.—No susceptibility or             resistance to diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—About 3 weeks to initiate roots and 10             weeks to produce a young plant from a rotted cutting. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch color.—Young; a blend of 152A and 199A, mature; a             blend of 199A and 199B, internodes; 199B, tinged 182C, older             stems and bark; 197A to 197C.         -   Branch size.—Up to 17 m in length and 2 mm in diameter.         -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem quantity.—An average of 2 main branches and 34 lateral             branches per plant.         -   Branch surface.—Glossy, glabrous.         -   Branch aspect.—Main branch; vertical, lateral branch average             angle of 50°.         -   Branch habit.—Main stems grow from base with lateral             branches.         -   Branch strength.—Strong.         -   Internode length.—An average of 2.8 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 14 (7 pairs) per lateral             branch.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 4 cm in length, 2.1 cm in width.         -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate to broadly oblong.         -   Leaf base.—Long acuminate.         -   Leaf apex.—Obtuse to broadly, bluntly acute.         -   Leaf aspect.—Flattened, average of 50° to lateral branch.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper surface color; 152A, lower             surface 178A.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire and undulate.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces glossy and glabrous.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; a blend of NN137B and 146A,             occasionally flushed with 137C and 138A, irregularly broadly             margined 6D, top tinged 35C, thin outside line along margin             35A, young lower surface; irregularly broadly margined 6D             and 8C, top tinged 35C, thin outside line along margin 35A,             mature upper surface; 147A, top tinged N199B, irregularly             broadly margined 51A and 51B, thin outside line along margin             51A, mature lower surface; 138B, irregularly broadly             margined 51C, thin outside line along margin 51A.         -   Petioles.—1.1 cm in length, average of 1.75 mm in width at             the widest point, 1.25 mm in width at the narrowest point,             strong, both surfaces are smooth, glabrous and glossy, upper             surface color 152B, lower surface color 199A to 199B.         -   Rachis.—None. -   Flower description: Flowers have not been observed to date, flowers     of the species are known to be absent or very insignificant and     briefly present if produced. 

It is claimed; 1: A new and distinct cultivar of Coprosma plant named ‘ALDAWN’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 